There were times the girl was too bright and far too intelligent.
“There are matters I need to attend to at the office.” I thought it best not to go into the reason.
“I can help,” she replied with far too much enthusiasm.
“I know—however, what about your lessons?”
The last thing I needed was to be concerned for her safety with what I intended to do. She made an immediate face.
“I can catch up when we return,” she suggested.
A flimsy excuse at best, and she knew it. And it was doubtful that her tutor would simply be waiting idly for her to return. That was not how it worked.
“Not this time,” I replied. “I will be meeting with business people. Quite boring, I assure you, very probably for several hours.” Not precisely true; nevertheless, it worked.
I saw the change of expression, not quite a frown, but she was definitely resigned to remaining with her‘boring’lessons.
“Perhaps you can persuade my aunt to take you to the zoo after her ladies’ luncheon. There are many fascinating creatures there,” I suggested. It was something that had been mentioned in the past.
“Her ladies’ luncheon?” she said with a groan. “That will take hours and there’s nothing to do. It’s boring.
“They have been known to conduct a séance at their luncheons,” I added.
“Séance?”
It appeared she had never heard of such a thing. Imagine that, with all her worldly experience.
“Contacting spirits from the other side, much like Templeton, often with surprising results.”
“Do they appear? Like ghosts?”
“It’s more of a hand on one’s shoulder, a whisper in the ear, or a sudden unexpected sound that reaches through from the other side.”
Her eyes were as large as tea saucers. “That could be exciting,” she exclaimed.
Exciting, as opposed to a boring business meeting.
“Will ye be taking the hound?” she asked. “I dinna think he’d take to strange sounds. It might upset the ladies.”
I agreed.
“Do ye think I should take the dirk I found in the sword room? Just in case one of them gets a bit rowdy.”
I did hope she wasn’t referring to the ladies.
I advised against it and explained that, in my experience, none had ever shown any sign of hostility. Of course that didn’t include Wills—Sir William Shakespeare, who my friend Templeton claimed could get quite an attitude when he was upset about something.
Lily decided that she would take her chances with the ladies and any spirits they happened to conjure up.
Munro had left earlier on a matter for my aunt. When he had still not returned, I asked Mr. Hastings to bring round the coach.
By the time he had readied the team, then arrived at the front entrance, Munro had still not returned. I left a note for him, then called for the hound and we set off for the Strand.
I had not been to the office in several days, however I could more easily place a telephone call from there. There were far too many ears about who might have overheard, had I placed the call from Sussex Square.
In addition, the Strand was not far from the place I hoped to visit, as well as the person I wanted to speak with.
The office was as I had left it days earlier. It didn’t appear that anything had been disturbed.
